VVS Laxman calls for Kuldeep and Chahal to play all games against Australia

09/19/2017

VVS Laxman has backed the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing XI in all the matches against Australia as it would help them to enhance their game ahead of the 2019 World Cup. Laxman also praised Hardik Pandya adding that he had found the perfect mentor in MS Dhoni.

When the BCCI announced the Indian squad for the India-Australia series, all the headlines were about the lack of the two experienced spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, from the team. The Indian team management explained that the rotation policy would boost their bench strength ahead of the 2019 World Cup which would give likes of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav much needed experience ahead of the World Cup in England and Wales. The spinning duo repaid the faith shown in them by sharing five wickets amongst themselves in the first ODI. After the performance, VVS Laxman applauded their efforts and went on to add that both players must play all the games against the Kangaroos.

“Even though the experienced Jadeja has been called into the squad as replacement for Axar Patel, my firm belief is that Kuldeep and Chahal must play all the matches so that they enhance their learning and settle down within the framework of the team. Together, they form a unique and potent wrist-spinning wicket-taking act, and are surely destined for greater deeds, just like Hardik is,” Laxman wrote in his column for TOI.

The opening game of the five-match ODI series was played at Chepauk on Sunday and while Australia appeared to have had the upper hand in the game when they sent five Indian batsmen back to the dressing room for a score of 87. However, Team India, after a rain delay, fought hard to register the victory in Chennai

“Australia will reflect on the Chennai ODI and look at it as an opportunity lost, but if they are honest with themselves, they will also acknowledge that this was more a case of India winning the game than the Aussies losing it. Agreed, after Nathan Coulter-Nile's triple strikes at the start of the contest left India in tatters, it appeared as if the home side was ripe for the taking, but two men still in the early stages of their careers put their hand up for India. Kedar Jadhav played his natural game, batting with confidence and abandon, while Hardik Pandya showcased both maturity and commonsense later on,” the 42-year-old added.

India were able to reach a competitive score thanks to a much-needed partnership between Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni, who scored a half century apiece.

“In MS, Hardik had the perfect mentor and ally. The master and the pupil took the game away from Australia in contrasting fashion. Hardik reiterated why he is among the top all-rounders in world cricket at the moment, graduating from a steady start to an explosive finish in no time. MS, who has been in these situations a million times in the past, was at home working the ball around, and then turning on the power game at the death,” Laxman opined.

The former Indian batsman also observed that the visitors were too heavily dependent on their two or three players which was visible in the first game.

“I get the impression that Australia will be heavily dependent on David Warner, Steve Smith and Maxwell as the series unfolds,” Laxman concluded.